Chapter Text
Izuku put his silent phone down, staring out of the train’s window with a small sigh. Oboro had his arm around his waist, casually pretending to snooze on his shoulder while they passed the 45 minute train ride to Gran Torino’s address.
Hayako stood a few steps away chatting with a few of the ghosts who seemed to be haunting the train, or various patrons on the train.
Izuku had been expressly forbidden from approaching them.
“You can’t get distracted by ghost business this week, Izu,” Oboro said sternly. “This week is for the Hero Kariru to grow and learn more, not to go off heroing, got it?”
He’d agreed a bit embarrassedly, and tried to focus on something else but ever since messaging Iida he’d been unable to get rid of the light anxiety that settled over his shoulders.
Shiori was sitting opposite him, kicking her feet happily and watching the city pass by them. Today her hair was twisted in two little buns on either side of her head and she was wearing a little ice flower that Yuki had given her. The ice didn’t melt on her cold body and Izuku found himself staring at his sister and wondering if she would be up to doing him a favor.
Shiori giggled loudly.
“Anything you need, Izu-nii!” She said happily and Izuku winced, realizing he’d said it out loud. He straightened up, trying to look like he’d meant to say it out loud from the start but Hayako shot him a stern look, making Oboro snicker.
“I’m worried about my …” Iida wasn’t really a close friend of his but he was still a student of 1A and Izuku, as Class Rep, had a responsibility for him. “I’m worried about Iida. I just have a bad feeling about him interning in Hosu when they’ve already transferred Iida Tensei to Musutafu General.” He reached up and messed with his hair nervously. “I was wondering if you’d spend some time with him and watch over him. I need someone to tell me if he’s struggling a lot.”
Shiori straightened up, puffing her chest out proudly.
“I’m perfect for this special mission, Izu-nii!” She declared. “Why would you be nervous to ask me? I’m the best at taking care of people, aren’t I? I took care of Izu-nii when he was just a little baby!”
Izuku’s heart melted.
“You did,” he confirmed warmly, hugging his sister tightly, if a bit surreptitiously so that he didn’t look strange hugging the air. “Will you be able to look after Iida and let me know if he needs help this week?”
Shiori nodded determinedly.
“You have to take real good care of Izu-nii, alright Roro-nii?” Shiori threatened Oboro and the ghost clung even tighter to Izuku’s shoulder, his body shaking with fond laughter. He released Izuku in order to hug Shiori just as tightly.
“I won’t let your Izu-nii out of my eyes for a moment, Shiori-chan,” Oboro promised happily. “Don’t worry about him at all.”
She beamed.
“You too, Haya-ojisan!” Shiori demanded, her eyes forming crescent moons at Hayako’s obedient agreement to take care of Izuku.
With Shiori keeping her eye on Iida, some of the pressure eased off his shoulders. He picked up his phone after a moment of contemplation and Oboro peeked over his shoulder curiously, not interrupting him.
Izuku
I sent Shiori to watch over Iida
Izuku
He seems to be struggling with Ingenium’s attack and I was worried about him going to Hosu alone when they’ve already moved his brother out of the area
Izuku
I just … wanted to tell you in case you were concerned about him too. I’ll let you know if Shiori says anything about him
“He’ll appreciate you telling him,” Oboro said softly, pressing his chin against Izuku’s neck. “He was worried about him too, since Tenya basically grew up in front of our eyes.”
Izuku was about to reply but his phone buzzed and he immediately lifted it to his face, ignoring Oboro’s snort.
Shota
Thanks for telling me, Izuku. Please let me know if anything comes up.
After a long moment where a little typing bubble showed up and disappeared every few seconds,
Shota
Stay safe this week. Please.
Izuku couldn’t hide his pleased smile. Oboro reached out and rubbed his red cheek.
“You’re adorable,” He complimented happily and Izuku shyly pushed his finger away. Hayako was pointedly ignoring them both. His mentor had insisted on coming along for the week to vet Gran Torino for his ability to train Izuku, but he was far too grumpy and prickly to admit that he wanted to watch over Izuku so he didn’t call his mentor out on it even though he was touched.
When they arrived in Yamanashi Prefecture they made their way to the address provided by the retired hero. For a long moment all three of them just stood outside the building, blinking at the dilapidated and depressing building standing in front of them.
“It’s … got an antique charm.” Oboro offered unsurely. Hayako scoffed.
“He obviously doesn’t trust you,” He sniffed, sounding unimpressed. “He must have used this building as a base away from his actual home. I will go in first and make sure it is safe, Izuku.”
He didn’t wait for a reply before floating into the crumbling building. Oboro whistled.
“He really doesn’t like it when other people try to train you.” He commented and Izuku snorted.
“Hayako-sensei is pretty particular about the things I learn,” Izuku explained. “He trained a lot of bad habits out of me-”
“Like your mumbling?”
Izuku blushed.
“Yes, like my mumbling among other things. He doesn’t want me to pick up bad habits from other trainers who won’t care as much about whether or not I succeed or get past my old … habits.” Izuku hedged around a few things that he didn’t really want to bring up now, in front of the strange building. Oboro frowned.
“I can tell there are things you aren’t saying right now, so whenever you’re ready to share them then I hope you remember Sho and I are always here to listen.” Oboro said softly and Izuku smiled at him shyly.
Hayako floated out of the building looking irritated.
“It’s relatively safe inside, depending on your idea of building integrity, but your teacher,” he sneered the word, “Is lying on the floor in a puddle of ketchup and raw sausages.”
Izuku stared at him bewilderedly.
“Ask All Might if that’s normal or if you need to get him some help.” Oboro advised. “He is kind of old, from what I gathered by the information on him.”
Izuku thought that was probably wise and obediently sent a message to All Might. It didn’t take much time at all for the hero to reply.
All Might Sensei
It’s normal! Please do not call any mental institutions … he enjoys a bit of a prank and probably wanted to give you a scare to see how you would react.
All Might Sensei
He did the same to me many times … I understand that it’s not everyone’s style but give him a chance. I’m sure he’ll end up impressing you!
Midoriya Izuku
No problem! I was just concerned because I wasn’t sure, but since you said it’s normal then I guess I’ll go in and give him a scare right back!
Oboro laughed and even Hayako looked amused.
“How are you going to scare him?” Oboro asked and Izuku just snickered.
“Fujiwara-san?” He said to Hayako. “Five years ago, Tokyo?”
Hayako burst out laughing.
“Absolutely!” He said, with relish, and Izuku nodded and picked up his suitcase to go inside. Oboro trailed after him looking confused.
“Who the hell is Fujiwara-san?” he asked Hayako but his sensei just laughed.
Izuku knocked on the door, playing his part as a clueless hero student. When there was no answer he eased the door open and poked his head inside.
“Hello?” He called out. “Um … Gran Torino-san? It’s Midoriya Izuku, I’m here for the internship?”
There was no reply, predictably, so he went deeper inside and, yes, there he was, lying in the middle of the living room in a puddle of ketchup and various sausages spilling from his gut.
“Oh dear,” he said smoothly, hiding his amusement, “He’s been attacked. That’s so unfortunate, but it works out for me … I was getting kind of hungry anyway.”
Oboro gaped at him in horror while Hayako howled in the corner.
Gran Torino twitched slightly on the floor then sprung up, shouting,
“I’m alive! You creep!”
Izuku smiled and bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Gran Torino-san, I’m Midoriya Izuku. According to All Might sensei you often played pranks like these so I decided to come in and prank you a little too. You don’t actually look good to eat.”
Oboro choked a bit.
Gran Torino laughed, though he still looked a bit disgruntled.
“I guess I had that coming, though it says something about you that you went straight to cannibalism.” He squinted at him as if trying to see right through him. Izuku blushed.
“I dealt with one a few years ago so it’s kind of an inside joke of sorts, though the situation wasn’t exactly funny at the time.” He admitted. “I’m sorry if I startled you.”
Gran Torino looked like he didn’t quite know what to say. Hayako was uselessly cackling in the corner, perhaps remembering how shit terrified Izuku had been years ago dealing with the foreign ghost who had run from authorities all the way to Japan without realizing that he was dead.
He shook his head, then said, quite casually,
“Who are you anyway?”
Izuku blinked.
“Um, I’m Midoriya Izuku,” he reminded, sharing an unsure look with an equally confused Oboro, wondering if this guy really was senile.
Gran Torino squinted.
“Toshinori?” He blurted and Izuku annoyedly reaffirmed who he was. Gran Torino suddenly seemed to recall who he was and Izuku took a calming breath, realizing the old man was messing with him.
“Tell him if he isn’t going to take you seriously then you’ll just leave and find a teacher who will teach you something.” Hayako insisted, looking deeply disapproving of the old hero. Izuku was reluctant to say it but he did want to be taken seriously so he squared his shoulders and did as told, turning around to leave the building and message All Might to apologize for leaving early.
He barely made it two steps away when all of a sudden Gran Torino was right in front of him, standing in front of the doorway.
Izuku never even saw him move.
“Kids these days! So impatient!” Gran Torino scolded, looking amused. “So! You’re the kid All Might saw potential in enough to send you my way, huh? What’s your quirk then?”
Izuku narrowed his eyes, suspicious at this sudden change in personality, but he wasn’t going to waste the moment of lucidity from whatever pranks he was pulling earlier.
“My quirk is called Medium,” he said slowly. “I can see ghosts and borrow their quirks with their permission.”
Gran Torino’s eyebrows went up a bit.
“Impressive. So you got a couple dead’uns with you, then?”
Oboro choked at being called a “dead’un” and Hayako snorted, looking reluctant to find the old man funny. Izuku pressed his lips together to hide his laugh.
“I have my teacher and my friend with me,” Izuku confirmed. “I was going to bring my sister for a wider range of quirk to work with but I had to send her to look over a classmate instead.”
“Interesting,” Gran Torino mumbled, then after a moment, “Then, use that quirk of yours and fight me!”
Izuku lifted a brow. He wasn’t about to underestimate the prowess of a hero that had trained All Might, but Gran Torino’s slight frame and stature didn’t exactly scream power or ability to him.
“Just kick his walking stick away,” Oboro muttered and Izuku coughed, hiding a laugh behind the noise.
“Should I change into my hero costume?” He asked awkwardly and Gran Torino nodded, sending him through a door and stared at him the whole way inside.
“This is going to be an interesting week,” Oboro shuddered. “That little dude gives me the creeps.”
Izuku laughed.
❋
Shota would die before he admitted it out loud but he missed the slight chill- the same one he'd spent years complaining about to his friends- over his shoulder that told him Oboro was with him.
He stood in Gym Gamma, staring at the shaking boy in front of him and tried to decide how he was going to go about this.
The knowledge that there was an unidentified, potentially dangerous poltergeist clinging to the slight, purple haired boy in front of him was giving him a bit of a strange dichotomy with how to approach him. One part of him, a strong part, wanted to interrogate him and find out everything he possibly could about the evil ghost, and another much wiser part of him, was quiet and taking in every small detail he possibly could.
“You’re fairly weak,” he finally said and Shinso Hitoshi flinched minutely. “You rely too much on your quirk to get you out of a situation and while that’s not bad, since it is a particularly helpful quirk, it’s not infallible. You learned that at the Sports Festival with Midoriya.”
Shinso frowned.
“No one has ever broken out of my quirk before,” He argued. “Midoriya is a-an anomaly.”
“You’re going to fail if you perform under the assumption that in this world there is only one single anomaly to your quirk,” Shota said strictly and the boy nodded mutely. “I saw a spark of potential in you, Shinso, but without a lot of extremely hard work you won’t be able to catch up to those students you beat in the Sports Festival. Already they know your quirk and if they’re smart at all they won’t let you get another word in, so what are you going to do about it?”
Shinso got a determined look about him, his brow creased almost like he was in pain.
“I’m going to work really hard, Eraserhead,” he determined, blinking a few times like he was trying to clear his head. Shota gave an approving nod.
“Are you alright to start? You look like you’re in pain.” He pointed out and Shinso shook his head.
“It’s just a little headache, they’re chronic and I take meds for it,” he said embarrassedly. “I always have them so it’s no problem. I’m ready to start.”
“Then run a few laps, get warmed up.” He instructed and the boy took off in a slow jog. Shota resolved to keep an eye on him, picking up his phone to make a note in his notes app under a file called “Info for Izu”. He’d named it that without thinking at all and by the time he realized he just left it there.
Spending time with Oboro again was rubbing the man’s mannerisms off on him. He was pretty sure Izuku would have a heart attack if Shota called him something sweet like Oboro did when they only just started awkwardly using each other's names. He still didn't know what had possessed him to tell him to call him by his name but he couldn't deny the pleasure he'd felt at hearing it from the boy's lips.
He stared at the name for a moment, sparing a second to check on Shinso’s progress. Just as he was about to put it away and do a few stretches of his own, a message popped up,
Izuku
Shota, this guy is insane! This is Boro btw
Izuku
He has Izu training to strengthen his quirk and now he can make me visible without touching me!!
Izuku
Sho he’s so fucking incredible, isn’t he? Look at how gorgeous he is right now.
[img]
Shota clicked on the picture sent to him and couldn’t help the small smile playing on his lips. Izuku was standing in the middle of a somewhat dilapidated looking living room, his body tense and rigid, expression a bit pinched, but even in a picture there was a certain power around him, almost creating a forcefield of power around him and at his side an old man that had to be the infamous Gran Torino stood looking smugly at Hayako Toyo, who looked reluctantly impressed.
Izuku
He’s perfect isn’t he?
Shota stifled a chuckle. Oboro was truly incorrigible even after all these years. He was constantly trying to fluster Izuku, and subsequently fluster Shota and, to his embarrassment, it mostly worked. He sent his reply and tucked his phone away to focus all of his attention on his responsibilities, trying not to think about what Izuku might think when he saw the messages later.
Shota
That he is.
❋
Izuku had never been so exhausted in his life.
Oboro and Hayako had to practically scrape him off the floor by the end of the day while Gran Torino watched, utterly nonplussed.
His body felt like a rung out dishrag. The little something in his chest that he identified as his quirk, that thing that allowed him to form bonds with ghosts, was trembling and he couldn’t form a connection with a ghost right now if he tried.
The price of training his quirk, Izuku discovered fairly fast after getting his ass handed to him with every single move he attempted to make using both Hayako and Oboro’s quirks to fight the demonic man All Might had foisted on him, was extreme exhaustion and nausea.
He’d thrown up once or twice throughout the day as Gran Torino coached him through extending his quirk’s reach on ghosts in his vicinity.
“Training with one or two quirks exclusively is all well and all, but you have the potential to get support from all sorts of dead pros that could help you out.” Torino told him sternly. “Having to keep hold of them the whole time is a liability!”
And he was right. Within the span of a few hours Torino had helped him unlock a whole new side of his quirk, teaching him to expand on the bond he already had with Oboro and Hayako and explaining how to do it by using the example of a woman he knew who could manipulate water.
“Her bond with water is incredible. She can create moving facsimiles of people that aid her in her fights by controlling the water at all times. Now, I’m not saying you can control your ghost, but I’m going to teach you some of the things I taught her while she was learning to expend her quirk for long stretches of time. That should allow you to widen the sphere you were creating there once you touched that blue dude’s hand.”
“The sphere?” Izuku had questioned, confusedly. Oboro was the one to answer for him, holding his hand fondly.
“Izu, how many times have I told you how incredible you are? Your quirk’s energy... when you make me visible, it makes this warm little bubble all around both of us. It’s hard to notice inside of it but Sho noticed it and we talked about it a bit one night while you were resting.” He explained warmly. Izuku had no idea about it but it made sense and now, with Torino’s assistance and advice, he’d managed to extend the sphere outward to encapsulate both Hayako and Oboro.
It was the hardest he’d ever pushed his quirk and after two full days of doing that and simultaneously trying to defend himself from Torino’s random attack, Izuku was absolutely exhausted and his stomach was rolling.
“Alright,” Torino took a look at him on the third morning. “You look like crap, so we’ll take it easier this morning and go on a patrol tonight. No use overworking a newly found muscle! Slow and steady is much more efficient!”
Izuku wouldn’t pretend to not be relieved at the prospect of a small break.
After training for the morning he had the afternoon free and decided to check in on the rest of his classmates.
Yaomomo
I hope your internship is going well, Izu-kun .. mine is, well, it’s going, I guess.
Yaomomo
I take your silence to mean that you’re learning more than just how best to use your body to get higher ratings on the hero chart.
Yaomomo
Uwabwami-san is … not what I thought she would be :(
Izuku frowned, feeling bad for his friend. Yaoyorozu was incredibly smart but lacked confidence. He’d originally suggested Uwabwami because the heroine had overflowing confidence but it seemed his suggestion had been less than good.
Izuku
I’m so sorry, Yaomomo :(( I thought Uwabwami-san would be able to help you be a bit more confident in your abilities.
Izuku
You’re going to be an amazing hero, I know it, so I thought maybe she would teach you how to trust in yourself a bit more.
Izuku
If she doesn’t, then at least remember that I trust you, Yaomomo! I wouldn’t be half as good a Class-Rep if it weren’t for you helping me.
Yaomomo
Izu-kun I will cry if you continue in this vein.
Oboro laughed at that and Izuku turned pink.
“Too much?” he panicked. “I just wanted her to trust herself the way I trust her! She’s an incredible fighter and her quirk is so amazing, but she doesn’t see it that way at all!”
“Don’t worry, she’s probably super touched.” Oboro reassured him. They were lounging on his bed together, both staring at his phone. Hayako had gone to check on Shiori for him since his sister hadn’t contacted them yet about Iida and Iida hadn’t replied to a single message on the group chat 1A shared.
Yaomomo
How is your internship going?
Izuku
I’ve never felt so physically ill in my existence. I finally know why All Might is the hero he is today- he was trying to survive Gran Torino
Oboro laughed, burying his head against Izuku’s nape and holding him tightly, letting his shuddering laughs ripple through Izuku’s body.
Yaomomo
Oh my
Yaomomo
I’m jealous but I’m happy you’re learning from such a fine hero!
Izuku thought “fine” was a bit of a stretch for the little sadist but he let it be.
Izuku
I think a lot of his teachings would be helpful to you too, actually. I’ll try and remember everything so I can teach it to you when we’re back at school!
Yaomomo
You’re the best, Izu-kun!
Yaomomo
Oh, I have to go help get Uwabwami-san ready for a photoshoot. Bye Izu-kun, stay safe!
Izuku
You too!
“Could be worse,” Oboro shrugged then smirked. “I bet Bakugou is getting tortured. I heard Bet Jeanist is a stickler for neat hair and all his sidekicks get a combover as soon as they step foot in the building.”
Izuku snickered at the mental image.
“Izuku,” Hayako returned, materializing in the room and scaring both of them. “Your friend is … not well. I’ve been down the road he’s on right now, so I recognize that look in his eye, but I’m afraid that if he isn’t stopped he might do something he will regret.”
Izuku’s stomach fell. He straightened up on his bed.
“What is he doing?” He dreaded the answer.
“He is searching for Stain.” Hayako said grimly. “He has revenge in his eyes and he is angry. Angry that his brother was considered something worth being culled. He will be joining his mentor on patrol tonight and I believe he plans on splitting away from him and finding Stain himself.”
There couldn’t possibly be anything worse that Hayako could have told him. Izuku whipped out his phone and Oboro gave him a shaky smile.
“I’m glad you’re telling him first. I thought I’d have to try convincing you to let him know.”
Izuku shook his head distractedly.
“This has as much to do with him as it has to do with me. Iida is his student, and like you said, he’s watched him grow up. He deserves to have a say in stopping him from doing something stupid.” Izuku said seriously.
“Oi, Midoriya! Come on, daylight’s burning!” Torino yelled from downstairs.
Izuku cursed under his breath, sending Aizawa a quick message and then hastily pulling on his hero costume and booking it downstairs.
“Where are we off to?” He asked curiously as they made their way out. Gran Torino huffed.
“Nothing happens around town here, at least nothing worth our intervention right now. We’re headed to somewhere a bit bigger with bigger fish to fry.” He said casually. “Hosu City.”
Izuku paused in step.
Hosu. Iida.
His phone burned in his pocket with his last message to Shota as a certifiable Bad Feeling entered his gut. Nevertheless, he trudged onwards, Oboro and Hayako at his sides.
❋
Shota stared down at his phone, clenching it hard enough for it to almost crack. The message was at least a half hour old. He’d been sparring with Shinso for a while before finally letting him practice with his spare capture weapon.
Izuku
Shota, Iida is searching for Stain. I have to go patrol now but please stop him!
“Stop your practice, Shinso,” Shota called out, pausing Shinso’s somewhat laughable attempts at utilizing the capture weapon. “Change of plans. We’re going on patrol in Hosu City, so grab some comfortable clothes, preferably dark, and let’s get going. You have ten minutes.”
Shinso went wide eyed, scurrying out of the training room at the speed of light.
Shota
I’ll do what I can. Stay safe, Izuku.
There was no reply and Shota couldn’t help but feel like something was going to go very wrong. As a hero, he didn’t typically ignore his gut feelings, and that was why the silence from Izuku scared him so much.
Shinso returned and they left immediately, neither one of them turning to the large television in the training room that was flashing with a frantic red alert for Breaking News.
DISASTER IN HOSU: CALLING ALL AVAILABLE HEROES FOR ASSISTANCE!